Universal Drain Adapter

ABSTRACT

A universal drain adapter comprising: a ring and a neck having a common substantially centrally disposed threaded hole; the ring having a plurality of holes and at least one other hole, each hole of the plurality of holes comprising a substantially centrally disposed portion, a first substantially rabbit ear portion, and a second substantially rabbit ear portion opposing the first substantially rabbit ear portion, the at least one other hole having another of the substantially centrally disposed portions, a substantially mouse ear portion, the other first substantially rabbit ear portion opposing the substantially mouse ear portion, the substantially centrally disposed portions tangentially directed about a first tangent line concentric with the ring, the first substantially rabbit ear portions tangentially directed about a second tangent line, the second substantially rabbit ear portions tangentially directed about a third tangent line, the substantially mouse ear portion tangentially directed about the first tangent line.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/801,919, filed Mar. 15, 2013, the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to drain adapters and more particularly to universal drain adapters.

2. Background Art

Showers, bathtubs, and the like typically discharge water and/or wastewater into floor drains and associated piping connected to the floor drains to facilitate the discharge and disposal of the water and/or wastewater from the showers, bathtubs, and the like. A drain adapter is typically fastened to the top of the floor drain, and a strainer neck is typically fastened to the drain adapter. A shower grate is then typically mounted onto the strainer neck.

The floor drains typically have a plurality of threaded holes for receiving a plurality of bolts or screws for fastening the drain adapters to. These floor drains typically have threaded holes and hole patterns specific to particular manufacturers, and there is no standard for the locations, sizes, and thread pitches of the threaded holes. Thus, drain adapters having hole locations and hole sizes that match those of the threaded holes and hole patterns of the floor drains, which often can only be matched by those of the manufacturer of the floor drains, are required. This becomes a particular problem in retrofit situations, where the floor drains are already installed, and replacement matching drain adapters can no longer be found.

There is thus a need for a universal drain adapter that can be mounted to a variety of different floor drains. The universal drain adapter should have a plurality of hole locations, shapes, and sizes that are adapted to fit and be mounted to a variety of the different floor drains. The universal drain adapter should be quick, easy, and convenient to install, long lasting, inexpensive to manufacture, sturdy, durable, of simple construction, and have a variety of different hole patterns, shapes, and sizes to facilitate use with a variety of floor drains, strainer necks, and shower grates.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a universal drain adapter that can be mounted to a variety of different floor drains. The universal drain adapter has a plurality of hole locations, shapes, and sizes that are adapted to fit and be mounted to a variety of the different floor drains. The universal drain adapter is quick, easy, and convenient to install, long lasting, inexpensive to manufacture, sturdy, durable, of simple construction, and has a variety of different hole patterns, shapes, and sizes to facilitate use with a variety of floor drains, strainer necks, and shower grates.

A universal drain adapter having features of the present invention comprises:

a ring and a neck integrally connected to one another and having a common substantially centrally disposed threaded hole therethrough;

-   -   the ring having a plurality of holes and at least one other         hole,         -   each hole of the plurality of holes comprising a             substantially centrally disposed portion, a first             substantially rabbit ear shaped portion, and a second             substantially rabbit ear shaped portion opposing the first             substantially rabbit ear shaped portion,         -   the at least one other hole having another of the             substantially centrally disposed portions, a substantially             mouse ear shaped portion, and another of the first             substantially rabbit ear shaped portions opposing the             substantially mouse ear shaped portion,         -   the substantially centrally disposed portions of the             plurality of holes and the other substantially centrally             disposed portion of the at least one other hole             substantially equally spaced apart and tangentially directed             about a first tangent line concentric with the ring,         -   the first substantially rabbit ear shaped portions of the             plurality of holes and the other first substantially rabbit             ear shaped portion of the at least one other hole             tangentially directed about a second tangent line concentric             with the ring,         -   the second substantially rabbit ear shaped portions of the             plurality of holes tangentially directed about a third             tangent line concentric with the ring,     -   the substantially mouse ear shaped portion of the at least one         other hole tangentially directed about the first tangent line.

DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a universal drain adapter, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the universal drain adapter;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the universal drain adapter;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the universal drain adapter;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the universal drain adapter;

FIG. 6 is an exploded cross section view of the universal drain adapter, a floor drain, a strainer neck, and a shower grate, the floor drain connected to a drain pipe;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the universal drain adapter, the floor drain, the strainer neck, and the shower grate;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the universal drain adapter showing various floor drains that the universal drain adapter may be fastened to;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the universal drain adapter fastened to a floor drain;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the universal drain adapter fastened to another floor drain;

FIG. 11 is a top view of the universal drain adapter fastened to yet another floor drain;

FIG. 12 is a top view of the universal drain adapter fastened to yet another floor drain;

FIG. 13 is a top view of the universal drain adapter fastened to yet another floor drain;

FIG. 14 is a top view of the strainer neck;

FIG. 15 is a top view of the shower grate;

FIG. 16 is a top view of the universal drain adapter showing centers of radii and tangent lines;

FIG. 17 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of a universal drain adapter;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of a universal drain adapter;

FIG. 19 is a top view of the other alternate embodiment of the universal drain adapter of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a side view of the other alternate embodiment of the universal drain adapter of FIG. 18; and

FIG. 21 is a top view of yet another alternate embodiment of a universal drain adapter.

DESCRIPTION

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1-21 of the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numbers.

FIGS. 1-16 show an embodiment of the present invention, a universal drain adapter 10 that has ring 12 having holes 14, 16, 18, and 20 that have hole locations, hole shapes, and hole sizes that facilitate matching those of threaded holes and hole patterns of a variety of floor drains.

FIGS. 1-5 show perspective, top, side, and bottom views of the universal drain adapter 10. Each of the holes 14, 16, and 18 has a substantially centrally disposed portion 22 and opposing substantially rabbit ear shaped portions 24 and 26. The substantially rabbit ear shaped portions 24 and 26 are of different sizes and are tangentially directed about different tangent lines that are concentric with the ring 12. The substantially rabbit ear shaped portion 24 has a first substantially rabbit ear shape, and the substantially rabbit ear shaped portion 26 has a second substantially rabbit ear shape.

The substantially centrally disposed portions 22 of the holes 14, 16, and 18 are typically substantially equally spaced apart. The substantially centrally disposed portions 22 of the holes 14, 16, and 18 are typically tangentially directed about a different tangent line than the different tangent lines of the substantially rabbit ear shaped portions 24 and 26. The tangent line of the substantially centrally disposed portions 22 is concentric with the ring 12.

The substantially centrally disposed portions 22 and the substantially rabbit ear shaped portions 24 and 26 are, thus, tangentially directed about different tangent lines.

The hole 20 has the substantially centrally disposed portion 22, the substantially rabbit ear shaped portion 24, and a substantially mouse ear shaped portion 28 opposing the substantially rabbit ear shaped portion 24. The hole 20 typically has substantially the same shaped centrally disposed portion 22 as in the holes 14, 16, and 18 and typically has substantially the same shaped rabbit ear shaped portion 24 having the first substantially rabbit ear shape as in the holes 14, 16, and 18. The substantially mouse ear shaped portion 28 typically has a different shape from that of the substantially rabbit ear shaped portion 24 and a different shape from that of the substantially rabbit ear shaped portion 26. The substantially mouse ear shaped portion 28 is typically tangentially directed about the same tangent line as the substantially centrally disposed portions 22 of the holes 14, 16, and 18.

The universal drain adapter 10 has neck 32, the ring 12 and the neck 32 adjoined one to the other. The universal drain adapter 10 has substantially cylindrical hole 34 therethrough and threads 36.

The universal drain adapter 10 typically has weep slots 38 for draining excess water, when necessary, and inwardly directed arcuate portions 40 adjacent the holes 14, 16, 18, and 20 for clearance to facilitate fastening and abutting heads 42 of screws 44 against the ring 12.

The universal drain adapter 10 is preferably of one piece integral construction, although other suitable construction may be used.

Each of the holes 14, 16, 18, and 20 may have different shapes and sizes, the same shapes and sizes, and/or mixed different and same shapes and sizes. In particular, the substantially rabbit ear shaped portions 24 and 26 and the substantially mouse ear shaped portion 28 may have different sizes and/or shapes to accommodate the wide variety of threaded holes and hole patterns of different floor drains. The substantially rabbit ear shaped portions 24 and 26 and/or the substantially mouse ear shaped portion 28 may be substantially wing shaped, optionally have serifs, and/or have other suitable shapes and/or sizes. The holes 14, 16, 18, and 20 are typically substantially equally spaced apart, although other suitable spacings may be used. The universal drain adapter 10 may be constructed with or without the neck 32 to facilitate fitting the universal drain adapter 10 into small spaces.

FIG. 6 shows an exploded cross section view of the universal drain adapter 10, a strainer neck 46, a shower grate 48, and a floor drain 50 connected to drain pipe 52.

The threads 36 of the universal drain adapter 10 are adapted to matingly receive threads 54 of the strainer neck 46. The screws 44 are used to fasten the universal drain adapter 10 to the floor drain 50. The shower grate 48 is adapted to removably seat in the strainer neck 46 at top 56 of the strainer neck 46.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the universal drain adapter, the floor drain, the strainer neck, and the shower grate.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the universal drain adapter showing various floor drains that the universal drain adapter may be fastened to;

FIGS. 9-13 show top views of the universal drain adapter fastened to various floor drains, and in particular floor drains A, B, C, D, and E from manufacturers Proflo®, Sioux Chief®, Oatey®, Watts®, and Jones Stephens®, respectively.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show top views of the shower grate 48 and the strainer neck 46, respectively.

Now, in more detail, FIG. 16 is a top view of the universal drain adapter 10 showing centers of radii and tangent lines of the universal drain adapter 10. The substantially centrally disposed portions 22 of the holes 14, 16, and 18 each have a first center of radius 100, each of which is common to and tangent to first tangent line 102; the substantially rabbit ear shaped portions 24 each have a second center of radius 104, each of which is common to and tangent to second tangent line 106; the substantially rabbit ear shaped portions 26 each have a third center of radius 108, each of which is common to and tangent to third tangent line 110; and the substantially mouse ear shaped portion 28 has a fourth center of radius 112, which is common to and tangent to the first tangent line 102. The first tangent line 102, the second tangent line 106, and the third tangent line 110 are concentric with the ring 12. FIG. 16 also shows optional recessed indicia 58.

The substantially centrally disposed portions 22 of the holes 14, 16, and 18 each have a first radius. The tips of the substantially rabbit ear shaped portions 24 each have a second radius, and the tips of the substantially rabbit ear shaped portions 26 each have a third radius. The tip of the substantially mouse ear shaped portion 28 has a fourth radius. The lengths of the first radius, the second radius, the third radius, and the fourth radius are each different.

The rabbit ear shaped portions may alternatively be described as cutouts, slots, or oblong shaped cutouts having tips, which have radii. The substantially rabbit ear shaped portion 24, thus, may alternatively be described as a first oblong shaped cutout having the first tip, which has the second radius; and the substantially rabbit ear shaped portion 26, thus, may alternatively be described as a second oblong shaped cutout having the first tip, which has the third radius. The neck 32 may alternatively be referred to as a collar or a hub.

The universal drain adapter 10 is preferably of cast iron or other suitable material, and is typically powder coated for long service life and durability. Epoxy or other suitable powder coatings may be used.

FIG. 17 shows an alternate embodiment of a universal drain adapter 60, which is substantially the same as the universal drain adapter 10, except that the universal drain adapter 60 has holes 64, 66, 68, and 70, each of which has a substantially centrally disposed portion 72 and opposing substantially rabbit ear shaped portions 74 and 76.

The substantially rabbit ear shaped portions 74 and 76 are of different sizes and are tangentially directed about different tangent lines that are concentric with ring 78. The substantially rabbit ear shaped portion 74 has a first substantially rabbit ear shape, and the substantially rabbit ear shaped portion 76 has a second substantially rabbit ear shape.

The substantially centrally disposed portions 72 of the holes 64, 66, 68, and 70 are typically tangentially directed about a different tangent line than the different tangent lines of the substantially rabbit ear shaped portions 74 and 76. The tangent line of the substantially centrally disposed portions 72 is concentric with the ring 78.

The substantially centrally disposed portions 72 and the substantially rabbit ear shaped portions 74 and 76 are, thus, tangentially directed about different tangent lines.

FIGS. 18-20 show an alternate embodiment of a universal drain adapter 80, which is substantially the same as the universal drain adapter 10, except that the universal drain adapter 80 has threaded ring 82. Elimination of the neck allows the universal drain adapter 80 to fit into small spaces.

FIG. 21 shows an alternate embodiment of a universal drain adapter 90, which is substantially the same as the universal drain adapter 80, except that the universal drain adapter 90 has opposing first and second substantially rabbit ear shaped portions 92 and 94, respectively, whereas the universal drain adapter 80 has at least one substantially mouse ear shaped portion 84.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A universal drain adapter, comprising: a ring and a neck integrally connected to one another and having a common substantially centrally disposed threaded hole therethrough; said ring having a plurality of holes and at least one other hole, each hole of said plurality of holes comprising a substantially centrally disposed portion, a first substantially rabbit ear shaped portion, and a second substantially rabbit ear shaped portion opposing said first substantially rabbit ear shaped portion, said at least one other hole having another said substantially centrally disposed portion, a substantially mouse ear shaped portion, and another said first substantially rabbit ear shaped portion opposing said substantially mouse ear shaped portion, said substantially centrally disposed portions of said plurality of holes and said other substantially centrally disposed portion of said at least one other hole substantially equally spaced apart and tangentially directed about a first tangent line concentric with said ring, said first substantially rabbit ear shaped portions of said plurality of holes and said other first substantially rabbit ear shaped portion of said at least one other hole tangentially directed about a second tangent line concentric with said ring, said second substantially rabbit ear shaped portions of said plurality of holes tangentially directed about a third tangent line concentric with said ring, said substantially mouse ear shaped portion of said at least one other hole tangentially directed about said first tangent line.
 2. The universal drain adapter according to claim 1, wherein: each said substantially centrally disposed portion of said plurality of holes and said other substantially centrally disposed portion of said at least one other hole having a first center of radius tangentially directed about said first tangent line concentric with said ring, each said first substantially rabbit ear shaped portion of said plurality of holes and said other first substantially rabbit ear shaped portion of said at least one other hole having a second center of radius tangentially directed about said second tangent line concentric with said ring, each said second substantially rabbit ear shaped portion of said plurality of holes having a third center of radius tangentially directed about said third tangent line concentric with said ring, said substantially mouse ear shaped portion of said at least one other hole having a fourth center of radius tangentially directed about said first tangent line.
 3. The universal drain adapter according to claim 1, wherein: each said substantially centrally disposed portion of said plurality of holes and said other substantially centrally disposed portion of said at least one other hole having a first radius, each said first substantially rabbit ear shaped portion of said plurality of holes and said other first substantially rabbit ear shaped portion of said at least one other hole having a first tip having a second radius, each said second substantially rabbit ear shaped portion of said plurality of holes having a second tip having a third radius, said substantially mouse ear shaped portion of said at least one other hole having a third tip having a fourth radius.
 4. The universal drain adapter according to claim 2, wherein: each said substantially centrally disposed portion of said plurality of holes and said other substantially centrally disposed portion of said at least one other hole having a first radius, each said first substantially rabbit ear shaped portion of said plurality of holes and said other first substantially rabbit ear shaped portion of said at least one other hole having a first tip having a second radius, each said second substantially rabbit ear shaped portion of said plurality of holes having a second tip having a third radius, said substantially mouse ear shaped portion of said at least one other hole having a third tip having a fourth radius.
 5. The universal drain adapter according to claim 1, wherein: said universal drain adapter has a plurality of radially directed substantially equally spaced apart weep slots adapted to drain excess water.
 6. The universal drain adapter according to claim 4, wherein: said universal drain adapter has a plurality of radially directed substantially equally spaced apart weep slots adapted to drain excess water.
 7. The universal drain adapter according to claim 1, wherein: said neck of said universal drain adapter has an arcuate clearance cutout adjacent each said substantially centrally disposed portion of said plurality of holes and adjacent said other substantially centrally disposed portion of said at least one other hole.
 8. The universal drain adapter according to claim 4, wherein: said neck of said universal drain adapter has an arcuate clearance cutout adjacent each said substantially centrally disposed portion of said plurality of holes and adjacent said other substantially centrally disposed portion of said at least one other hole.
 9. The universal drain adapter according to claim 6, wherein: said neck of said universal drain adapter has an arcuate clearance cutout adjacent each said substantially centrally disposed portion of said plurality of holes and adjacent said other substantially centrally disposed portion of said at least one other hole.
 10. The universal drain adapter according to claim 1, wherein: said plurality of holes comprises three holes and said at least one other hole comprises one hole.
 11. A universal drain adapter, comprising: a ring and a neck integrally connected to one another and having a common substantially centrally disposed threaded hole therethrough; said ring having a plurality of holes and at least one other hole, each hole of said plurality of holes comprising a substantially centrally disposed portion, a first substantially oblong shaped portion, and a second substantially oblong shaped portion opposing said first substantially oblong shaped portion, said at least one other hole having another said substantially centrally disposed portion, a substantially mouse ear shaped portion, and another said first substantially oblong shaped portion opposing said substantially mouse ear shaped portion, said substantially centrally disposed portions of said plurality of holes and said other substantially centrally disposed portion of said at least one other hole substantially equally spaced apart and tangentially directed about a first tangent line concentric with said ring, said first substantially oblong shaped portions of said plurality of holes and said other first substantially oblong shaped portion of said at least one other hole tangentially directed about a second tangent line concentric with said ring, said second substantially oblong shaped portions of said plurality of holes tangentially directed about a third tangent line concentric with said ring, said substantially mouse ear shaped portion of said at least one other hole tangentially directed about said first tangent line; each said substantially centrally disposed portion of said plurality of holes and said other substantially centrally disposed portion of said at least one other hole having a first radius; each said first substantially oblong shaped portion of said plurality of holes and said other first substantially oblong shaped portion of said at least one other hole having a first tip having a second radius; each said second substantially oblong shaped portion of said plurality of holes having a second tip having a third radius; said substantially mouse ear shaped portion of said at least one other hole having a third tip having a fourth radius.
 12. The universal drain adapter according to claim 11, wherein: each said substantially centrally disposed portion of said plurality of holes and said other substantially centrally disposed portion of said at least one other hole having a first center of radius tangentially directed about said first tangent line concentric with said ring, each said first substantially oblong shaped portion of said plurality of holes and said other first substantially oblong shaped portion of said at least one other hole having a second center of radius tangentially directed about said second tangent line concentric with said ring, each said second substantially oblong shaped portion of said plurality of holes having a third center of radius tangentially directed about said third tangent line concentric with said ring, said substantially mouse ear shaped portion of said at least one other hole having a fourth center of radius tangentially directed about said first tangent line.
 13. The universal drain adapter according to claim 11, wherein: said universal drain adapter has a plurality of radially directed substantially equally spaced apart weep slots adapted to drain excess water.
 14. The universal drain adapter according to claim 12, wherein: said universal drain adapter has a plurality of radially directed substantially equally spaced apart weep slots adapted to drain excess water.
 15. The universal drain adapter according to claim 11, wherein: said neck of said universal drain adapter has an arcuate clearance cutout adjacent each said substantially centrally disposed portion of said plurality of holes and adjacent said other substantially centrally disposed portion of said at least one other hole.
 16. The universal drain adapter according to claim 12, wherein: said neck of said universal drain adapter has an arcuate clearance cutout adjacent each said substantially centrally disposed portion of said plurality of holes and adjacent said other substantially centrally disposed portion of said at least one other hole.
 17. The universal drain adapter according to claim 13, wherein: said neck of said universal drain adapter has an arcuate clearance cutout adjacent each said substantially centrally disposed portion of said plurality of holes and adjacent said other substantially centrally disposed portion of said at least one other hole.
 18. The universal drain adapter according to claim 14, wherein: said neck of said universal drain adapter has an arcuate clearance cutout adjacent each said substantially centrally disposed portion of said plurality of holes and adjacent said other substantially centrally disposed portion of said at least one other hole.
 19. The universal drain adapter according to claim 11, wherein: said plurality of holes comprises three holes and said at least one other hole comprises one hole. 